The active steps you can take today to help the environment
At work
• Only print when you need to. If you do, print on both sides of the paper
• Switch off your computer before leaving work – don’t leave it on standby all night
• Avoid using disposable materials such as plastic cups
• Reuse materials where possible; packaging from suppliers can be reused to transport your own products
• Identify the materials you can recycle such as cans, paper, cardboard, glass and plastic bottles, and collect them separately
At home
• Use rechargeable batteries
• Make food at home instead of buying takeaways to avoid packaging waste
• Cover leftovers in the fridge with a saucer instead of cling film
• Use washable towels instead of disposable tissues
• Carry and refill a water bottle or reuse plastic water bottles
• Reuse plastic containers, jars and tins for storing leftovers instead of buying new containers
• Repair appliances rather than discarding them and buying new ones
• Freeze leftovers
• Donate empty egg boxes and yoghurt pots to schools as craft supplies
At the supermarket
• Use a cotton shopping bag
• Refuse all plastic bags from shops
• Store shopping bags in the car for shopping on the way home from work
• Roll up a spare plastic shopping bag and store it in your bag for the times when you think you won’t need a bag, but do
• Look for products with minimal packaging
• Avoid individually wrapped items
• Bulk buy items that won’t go off, such as washing up liquid
• Choose concentrated or refillable products
• Place fruit and veg directly in your basket and don’t use bags
• Buy second-hand furniture
• Return your bags to the same place after unpacking your shopping at home
• Avoid packaging made of more than one material that can’t be separated
• Support shops that are environmentally conscious, such as The Body Shop and Organic Foods & Cafe in Masdar City
At school
• Give a power point presentation or use blackboards instead of paper flipcharts
• Buy supplies in bulk
• Use refillable pens and pencils
• Reuse file folders by applying new labels
• Reuse envelopes for internal mailings or filing
• Make notepads out of scrap paper
• Donate unwanted items to charity
• Host regular events for students and teachers to swap unwanted items
• Make a worm compost for food scraps as a science project
For details, visit www.cwm.ae.
Spotlight on Rotana
Masdar City isn’t Abu Dhabi’s only organisation that has a green policy. Rotana Hotels is behind the eco suite that will be on display during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Christiane Zeidan, Rotana’s environment director, talks us through the hotel’s eco programme.
Christiane says, ‘Rotana already asks guests to reuse towels, and housekeeping separate bedroom bin waste – so we recycle 1,000 tons of waste a year. We celebrate Earth Hour every March, where we switch off all lights for an hour, and encourage staff and guests to be socially responsible by organising blood donation days; in 2012, Rotana donated 400,000ml. We launched a food waste reduction programme in early 2013; since then, the charity, Red Crescent, has collected edible leftover food for the poor. A few weeks ago we launched an organic compost at Beach Rotana – the results will be used for landscaping – and throughout 2014 we’ll start encouraging guests to use a separate bin for plastic, glass and cans.
‘The prototype suite at ADNEC will showcase new technology which will reduce tap flow, recycled toiletry packaging, organic bathroom products and low-wattage LED lights, which turn off when guests leave the room.’
No time to waste
Latest figures by The Center of Waste Management Abu Dhabi show 6.5 million tons of waste was produced in the UAE in 2010, a figure that is predicted to rise to 8.3 million by 2017.
This puts the UAE in the world’s top ten for generating the most solid waste per person. Along with Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait, the UAE produces 23 million tons of waste annually. Ever wondered where it all goes?
Most of it ends up in landfill. The Emirate of Abu Dhabi has 1,800 hectares of landfills – the size of four Lulu Islands. The largest is Al Dhafra, just beyond Mussafah. At 16sq km, it covers an area of land six times the size of the City of London, and in parts is 15m deep.
Between a third and a half of all waste is biodegradable food scraps, but if that’s not composted properly, it generates the greenhouse gas methane, which contributes to climate change. In many countries, this gas is captured and turned into energy. Not so in Abu Dhabi.
The rest of the waste is a toxic cocktail of medical, chemical, industrial and construction waste. But as the landfills have no lining, liquid waste leaches into soil, threatening groundwater (underground water) resources.
Where does our water come from?
According to The Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, groundwater is the city’s most important source of water, as well as desalinated potable water. Umm Al Nar, on Sas Al Nakhl Island to the east of the capital, is the city’s largest water source, followed by the rivers Shuweihat and Taweelah.
Each Abu Dhabi resident uses about 550l of water a day. But with falling groundwater levels, pollution and rising population density, Abu Dhabi faces an acute water shortage in the future.
Highlights of the conference
World Future Energy Summit:
January 20-22
The opening ceremony will take place 11am-noon on January 20. Individual speakers and companies will present new eco-friendly technology and discuss how public policy, research and development can benefit from renewable energy. Previous attendees have included heads of state from the UK, China, France, South Korea and Argentina.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize Award Ceremony:
January 20
A US$4 million (Dhs14,692,000) prize for global excellence in renewable energy and sustainability will be awarded at a gala dinner at Emirates Palace from 7-8pm. It will span five categories – large corporation, small and medium enterprise, non-governmental organisation, lifetime achievement and global high schools.
The International Renewable Energy Jobs Conference:
January 21
The conference will address how the renewable energy sector has become a significant employer. It will also provide a platform for policymakers to share knowledge, experiences and best practice on creating more jobs in the renewable energy sector.
